‘Galaxy Gas’ puts new name on old — and very dangerous — way kids get high

DOCTORS ARE WARNING ABOUT A DANGEROUS TREND THAT IS *NOT* NEW – BUT HAS RESURFACED UNDER A NAME YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW.

THEY SAY THEY’RE SEEING A RISE IN KIDS USING “GALAXY GAS” AS A RECREATIONAL DRUG.

GALAXY GAS IS A BRAND OF NITROUS OXIDE THAT’S INTENDED FOR USE *ONLY* IN WHIPPED CREAM CHARGERS AND DISPENSERS, ACCORDING TO THE ATLANTA-BASED COMPANY THAT MAKES IT.

THE CHARGERS ARE USED TO TRANSFORM CREAM OR OTHER INGREDIENTS INTO A WHIPPED STATE FOR CULINARY USE.

NITROUS OXIDE IS ALSO KNOWN AS “LAUGHING GAS” AND ITS MISUSE HAS BEEN KNOWN AS “DOING WHIPPETS” FOR DECADES – BUT THIS NEW, UNFAMILIAR NAME COULD MEAN KIDS USING THE GAS TO GET HIGH MAY GO UNNOTICED, ESPECIALLY SINCE GALAXY GAS AND SIMILAR PRODUCTS ARE TOTALLY LEGAL IN THE U-S.

AND SINCE THEY’RE OFTEN FLAVORED… EXPERTS SAY THAT CAN MAKE THEM MORE APPEALING TO YOUNG PEOPLE.

THE TREND HAS GAINED POPULARITY ON TIKTOK, AND FOR ITS PART – THE PLATFORM IS TRYING TO STOP USERS FROM VIEWING ANY CONTENT THEY MIGHT FIND BY SEARCHING “GALAXY GAS”… INSTEAD DIRECTING THEM TO RESOURCES FOR HELP WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE. 

STILL – LIKE PRETTY MUCH ANY OTHER BARRIER IN THE TECH AGE… KIDS HAVE FOUND A WAY AROUND THAT.

OFTEN, THEY’LL GET AROUND CENSORSHIP BY LEAVING CERTAIN LETTERS OUT OF THE TAG.

AND WHILE “GALAXY GAS” HAS BECOME THE POPULAR TERM FOR THIS FORM OF GETTING HIGH – EXPERTS WARN PARENTS THERE *ARE* OTHER BRANDS SELLING SIMILAR ITEMS THAT CAN BE USED IN THE SAME WAY. 

USING NITROUS OXIDE RECREATIONALLY CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF ITS IMPACTS ON THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM – THE BRAIN, IN PARTICULAR.

INHALING IT CAN LEAD TO DIZZINESS, LIGHTHEADEDNESS, AND IMPAIRED JUDGMENT – ALL HALLMARKS OF THE HIGH.

BUT, DOCTORS WARNS INHALING LARGE AMOUNTS OVER EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME CAN LEAD TO OXYGEN DEPRIVATION… WHICH CAN DAMAGE BRAIN CELLS OR EVEN KILL YOU.

THEY SAY THERE *ARE* SOME SIGNS PARENTS CAN LOOK OUT FOR THAT COULD INDICATE YOUR CHILD IS MISUSING NITROUS OXIDE… 

INCLUDING MEMORY GAPS… 

BOUTS OF RANDOM LAUGHTER…

MOOD CHANGES – ESPECIALLY IF THEY’RE INEXPLICABLY EUPHORIC… 

AND, OF COURSE, FINDING EMPTY CANISTERS.

THEY ALSO SAY PARENTS SHOULD BE SUSPICIOUS IF THEIR KIDS SEEM TO INNOCUOUSLY ASK THEM TO BUY WHIPPED CREAM CANISTERS… OR IF THEY TURN UP MISSING FOR PARENTS WHO ALREADY HAVE THESE PRODUCTS.